Shelf or stretcher fastener for knockdown tables, &amp;c.



. w. J. MADDOX.. A SHELF 0R STRETGHER FASTBNER FOR.KNOGKDOWN TABLES, Aw. APIVLIOATION FILED JULY 17,1908.

924,084. L 'Patented June 8,1909.

\\\\\\\\\\\ E WMM WILLIAM J. MADDOX, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

SHELF OR STRETCHER FASTENER FOR KNOCKDOWN TABLES, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 17, 1908.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Serial No. 444,142.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. MAnDox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shelf or Stretcher Fasteners for Knockdown Tables, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the characters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention relates to securing means for connecting the shelves, stretchers or similar parts of knock-down tables and like furniture with the legs or posts, the objects of the invention being to provide a simple means whereby the parts may be connected without the use of tools, and which will afford a tight and rigid connection with little or no danger of portions of the meeting edges becoming split or broken oft, as so frequently happens with fastening devices heretofore employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastening means which shall be entirely concealed from view, whereby the parts appear to be connected by mortise and tenon joints, although in fact detachably connected so as to permit of ready separation for storage or shipment, and as readily reassembled when the table or furniture is to be set up for use.

The invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described and pointed out particularly in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a table having the lower stretchers secured in place by fastening means embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a portion of a table with the shelf secured in place by such fastening means. Figs. 3 and t are enlarged detail sections of the fastening means as applied to a shelf, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the fastening means applied to a stretcher.

The tables illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are of conventional form, that is to say, the tops A are supported by corner legs B, which may be secured to the tops and skirts in any usual or approved manner, preferably, however,

. by detachable means whereby the table may be made knock-down.

n The fastening means of the present invention is, for convenience, illustrated in connection with the shelf C in Fig. 2, and stretchers D in Fig. 1. This fastening means embodies primarily a metallic member in the form of a wood screw E, adapted to be secured permanently in the leg B of the table and having its projecting end E bent up at right angles or substantially parallel with the table leg when the device is in position. At its extremity the upwardly bent portion E of the metallic member is provided with a rounded head E2, the whole member being thus in the form of an L-shaped screw with a rounded head. For cooperation with the round head of the L-shaped member, the stretcher or shelf, as the case may be, is formed with an inclined socket F, preferably cylindrical in cross section and inclined at such an angle that the head of the L shaped member will alone Contact with the forward wall of the socket, whereby the pressure necessary to hold the stretcher or shelf in place is applied only at a point well within the interior of the stretcher or shelf,

and consequently does not tend to split the same, nor will it cause the portion of the stretcher or shelf between the socket and end to be pulled out. In order to completely conceal the L-shaped member, a transverse channel G extends from the socket to the end of the stretcher for the reception of the shank of the member, as is well illustrated in the detail views, Figs. 3, 4L and 5.

In making use of the present invention the L-shaped member is first screwed into the leg of the furniture and left with the headed portion projecting upwardly. To secure the stretcher or shelf which has been previously formed with the inclined socket and channel before referred to, it is simply placed in position on the L-shaped member and pressed rmly down. rlhe incline of the socket insures a wedging action between the head of the L-shaped member and the front wall of the socket, whereby the shelf or stretcher is forced against and substantially rigid with relation to the leg. The rounded head, not only permits of a smooth and easy entry of the wedging portion of a shelf stretcher, but itself seats to a greater or less extent in the face of the socket, and as a result resists any tendency of the shelf or stretcher to Work upwardly or disengaged from its lng means.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters-Patent, is:

In knock down furniture, the combination with the leg and a transverse'l member having an inclined socket formed therein at a point removed from the end, of an L-shaped screw secured in the leg. and having a'n enlarged.

to become accidentally fastening and supporthead adapted to coperate with thc forward Wall of the socket and to space the shank of the screw therefrom whereby the pressure necessary to hold said member in place will be applied at a point Well within the interior of the transverse member.

lV. R. Bo'rsrolu). 

